Toy steering wheel and gear shift



Oct. 25, 1949. L SOLO ON 2,486,219

TOY STEERING WHEEL AND GEAR SHIFT Filed Jan. '23, 1948 3250023 z/az/ov,

e 2 fiorzys,

Patented Oct. 25, 1949 TOY STEERING 2,486,219 I WHEEL AND GEAR SHIFT Louis Solomon, Chicago, 111. Application January 23, 1948, Serial No. 3,897

1 Claim. (01. '46- 1) Among the objects of my invention is to provide a toy removably attachable to the instrument panel of an automobile so as to simulate the steering and gear shifting of the automobile, without danger to the car or the user of the toy. This is an improvement on the invention of Adolph Martin Rothbardt on Miniature steering wheel as set forth in the copending application Serial No. 744,366, filed April 28, 1947, now Patent Number 2,446,721.

A child greatly enjoys imitating the movements of his father in driving an automobile. It is always a great temptation for the child to take hold of the steering wheel and thus possibly cause injury and damage. With my device the child may copy the movements of his father or other driver in both steering the car and in shifting of the gears. This will satisfy the childs desire for play, and at the same time afford him instruction, to some degree, in driving.

My toy is also adapted to be attached to other surfaces such as a bath tub, so that the child may imagine that he is driving a motor boat with desired turns and gear shiftings. My toy may also be removably attached to the floor so that the child may stand and imagine he is driving a tractor. There are other uses for my toy, of a similar nature, which may afford the. child safe play and constructive education.

My invention also contemplates such other objects, advantages and capabilities which will later more fully appear, and which are inherently possessed by my invention.

While I have shown in the attached drawings preferred embodiments of my invention, yet it is to be understood that the same are susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my steering wheel and gear shift toy; Fig. 2 is a top plan view with details in section; Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the shaft mechanism; Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the same; Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed view of one embodiment of my plate and Fig. 6 is a detailed view of my plate as shown on line 6-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring more now to the embodiments selected to illustrate my invention, I provide a steering wheel l0, circular in shape and having spaced spokes H. The hub l2 has a reduced portion l3 with an opening l4 therein to removably receive the upper end of post l5. The lower end of post I5 is removably fitted in opening [6 of upper portion I! of suction cup [8.

In place of suction cup [8, I may provide any other suitable means for removably attaching the lower portion of my toy to'a support such as the instrument panel ofan automobile, or the like. A strap [9 has its rounded portion 20 positioned around the outer surface of reduced portion 13. The spaced end portions 2| and 22 of strap I9 have openings 23 and 24 through which extends the shank 25 of bolt 26. A nut 21 is threaded on to the outer end of shank 25. A plate 28 has its inner end curved and rests against reduced portion I3 immediately above strap [9, and has a pair of downwardly extending portions 29 and 30 attached to opposite portions of strap l9. At the outer end plate 28 has a downwardly extending flange 3| with an opening 32 to be hereinafter described.

A handle 33 having a knob 34 on its outer end, extends inwardly through opening 32, and has attached to its inner end a reduced shank, on the outer end of which is formed a ball 35. Said ball 35 is positioned between end portions 2| and 22 of strap l9 andis adapted to pivot within holes 36 and 31 provided in said end portions.

The opening 32 in flange portion 3| heretofore referred to in one embodiment, consists of a clover leaf shape having four rounded portions 38, 39, 40 and 4|. In another embodiment, the opening 32 through flange 3i consists of upper and lower small curved portions 42 having a pair of opposite enlarged side portions 43.

In operation the child may'turn the steering wheel to simulate steering motions, and may move the gear shift lever to simulate first, second, third and reverse speeds of an automobile, motor boat, or the like.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In a steering wheel toy having a steering wheel having-a hub with a rim outwardly spaced'from said hub by a plurality of radially spaced spokes extending between said hub and said rim, said hub having a rearward extension with a rear opening, a post having one end extending within said rear opening and removably secured therein, a suction attaching cup having a hollow boss, the other end of said post extending within said hollow boss and removably secured therein, said suction attaching cup adapted to be removably and instantly attached to any substantially flat surface of sufficient area to receive it so as to permit the wheel to be operated in simulated driving operations, a strap having a rounded portion attached to the rearward extension of said hub, said strap having a pair of spaced end portions, each with holes therethrough, means attaching 3 said spaced end portions, a plate having a curved inner end positioned against said rearward extension of said hub immediately above said strap, said plate having a pair of downwardly extending portions attached to opposite portions of said strap, said plate having at its outer end a downwardly extending flange with an opening therethrough, said opening having four vertically and horizontally spaced rounded portions forming a clover leaf pattern simulating the positions of first speed, second speed, third speed and reverse, a rod having a knob on its outer end, and a ball on its inner end, said rod extending through the opening in the downwardly extending flange of said plate, said ball pivotally mounted between said spaced end portions of said strap, and in the holes of said end portions, said ball adapted to be pivoted between said spaced end portions 4. of said strap upon movement of said rod to permit said rod to be moved into any of the four spaced rounded portions of the opening in the downwardly extending flange of said plate to simulate gear shifting.

LOUIS SOLOMON.

v REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Nun iher U Name Date 1,272,574 Thoinas July 16, 1918 1,609,147 White Nov. 30, 1926 1,910,45Q Williams May 23, 1933 2,322,403 Vanderkieft June 22, 1943 2,446,721 Rothbardt Aug. 10, 1948 

